By Ariel Casida
Rylan Fisher is a senior at Covington-Douglas High School. He participates in football, baseball, and shotgun sports in FFA. He has been participating in football for 11 years and was originally introduced through his dad and uncle who were his coaches when he was starting out.
Rylan’s favorite part about football is getting to go out there and make tackles. He has to use things like speed, proper body positioning, focus, and proper grip; putting those skills together to bring the other player down safely and effectively. The highest moment in his career so far was when his team made it to the semifinals in 2024, because it’s the furthest that he’s made it with his team. His favorite football moment was when his team beat the number one ranked team in the class above them. Rylan has been awarded 1st team All District Linebacker two times.
Rylan’s dad plays such an important role in his life. His dad is not only his biggest role model but has also made the biggest positive impact on him. He has shown Rylan how to conduct himself and how to help others, leaving a lasting impression that he’ll be able to carry with him into adulthood.
To Rylan, being a great athlete means having a good mindset. He believes that you can do anything that you put your mind to. When things get tough for Rylan, he uses self-reflection to try to work through the hard times, pushing himself through any situation with the mental fortitude needed to keep going. Sports have taught him to be very disciplined and how to be coachable. This is also his advice to his fellow athletes. Being coachable allows you to continue to grow in your sport by getting the feedback that you need from your coach and team to be the best player that you can be for them.
In his free time, Rylan likes to hunt, fish, and just being outdoors. So, it’s no surprise that his favorite subject in school has been participating in FFA because of the shotgun competitions. The shotgun competitions are where students can learn gun safety and show off their shooting skills with trap and sporting clays. His favorite teacher is Coach Gillette because he’s fun to be around.
After high school, Rylan plans to join the workforce and learn to be an elevator mechanic, following in the footsteps of his cousin.
